You might not agree with me, but now is the best time to visit Türkiye. The main sights are relatively quiet, the beaches are sunbed-free, and the prices are more pocket-friendly. Plus, the sunny days are beginning to outnumber the rainy ones, so you’ll get to enjoy both beach days and cozy evenings around the fire.
As with much of Europe, most hotels are very seasonal, opening their doors around April or May. It’s always nice to find spots that remain open year-round so you can take advantage of the quieter months. Enter Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort.
I’ve written about Maxx Royal before – I visited their Kemer resort last May and was blown away by the standard and quality of their service and facilities. So I was excited to see another one of their famous properties. Belek is about an hour’s drive from Antalya, in the opposite direction from Kemer. It’s best known for its long, sandy beaches and golf courses.
The main hotel building is designed in a huge half-moon shape, representing the flag of Türkiye, with rooms fanning out around the curve. Mine – a Royal Suite – was at the very tip of the half-moon, with balconies on either side that made me feel like I was on a luxury liner. I enjoyed enviable views of both the ocean and the snowy Taurus Mountains from my terrace sunbeds. One sunset I was even accompanied by a murmuration of starlings that lasted for an hour.
Downstairs, there’s a lobby bar and the “Jay Lounge” (open 24 hours), which serves a decent selection of signature cocktails such as the lemongrass martini and “Pirates Cave” (white rum, passion fruit, chilli, and lemon). This is the perfect place for a pre-dinner livener before heading to one of the restaurants.The mixologists really know their stuff.
In terms of dining options, there are Signature restaurants, à la carte options, and the Azure buffet to choose from. I tried lunch at Kalamatas (which served the most incredible aubergine and tomato mezze), a sushi dinner at Bishoku, and sampled a small percentage of the vast Azure buffet, which featured a dizzying selection of dishes from all across the world – including specialties from the Philippines, India, and Thailand.
As in Kemer, there’s also Twenty4 – a 24-hour dining option, where I enjoyed a delicious fish lunch on the terrace during a sunny January day. Seafood enthusiasts will also love Seavore, although I didn’t get to try it myself, and carnivores should head to the Bueno Steak House. There’s also Anatolian cuisine at Safraan, a beach bar, a Mövenpick ice-cream bar, and a chocolaterie. Let’s just say you won’t leave hungry.
Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort has its own Montgomerie championship course, designed by Colin Montgomerie in collaboration with European Golf Design. This floodlit 18-hole course has hosted several notable competitions over the years, such as Türkiye’s first European Tour event, the Turkish Airlines Open. It’s also seen some of the sport’s biggest names play here, including Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka, and Rory McIlroy. So if golf is your thing, this is the place to be.
The course and clubhouse are separate from the main hotel and require a buggy transfer. Upstairs in the clubhouse is the fine-dining restaurant Gastro, led by Michelin-starred chef Alfredo Russo – so be sure to book a table when you come. I had the good fortune of dining there one evening, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience that began with a Turkish-coffee-infused Negroni cocktail served in front of an open fire, followed by bread toasted on open coals, mackerel pâté, crab and ricotta pasta, and red wine opened using heated tongs. The night ended with the legendary 100-hour lemon – a highlight reminiscent of my last Gastro meal in Kemer.
As with all Maxx Royal hotels, families are very well catered for, and children of all ages are guaranteed to have a great time. There’s an in-house games room and cinema, plus no end of planned activities and excursions to choose from. Don’t forget that you’ll get access to your own Maxx Royal Assistant, who is available via the app – nothing is too much trouble!
Maxx Royal also excels in spas and wellness, and in Belek the standout feature is the hammam. This is Türkiye, after all. Needless to say, the private villas have their own hammams (tucked away behind a “secret” door, no less), but the main spa also has a private one you can book. On one rainy day, that’s exactly what I did.
It felt very indulgent to have a whole space to myself; for one hour, I was pummelled and scrubbed to within an inch of my life and emerged feeling like a new woman – which I’m sure is the aim. When I lived in Paris, this was a weekly ritual for me, and it felt good to revisit the old custom. For this particular hammam, I had a foam massage, though you could also opt for the Moroccan style with clay. I’d forgotten how clean it made you! I also had a facial using Biologique Recherche and Caci Ultimate micro-flow therapy – an extremely relaxing experience.
So come off season, I say. Yes, you might not be swimming in the sea (although I did), but you’ll be enjoying some wonderful Turkish hospitality without the crowds. The air is fresh, the mountains are glorious and capped with snow, and there’s a cosiness to the place that you just can’t beat.
Ultra all-inclusive double room prices start from €750. Katie stayed in the Royal Suite, which starts at €1,300 per night. For more information, please visit www.maxxroyal.com.
